Studio E bears \u2018very significant\u2019 responsibility for disaster, says Grenfell Tower inquiry<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\nThe AJ understands any changes would not impact the regulatory function of the Architects Registration Board (ARB). Nor would it undertake testing and certification of construction products or issue certificates of compliance.<\/p>\n
The move is one of 58 actions due to be taken by government as part of its full response to the Grenfell Inquiry \u2013 published today \u2013 in response to the recommendations set out by inquiry chair Martin Moor-Bick, 37 of which were aimed at the government.<\/p>\n
Moore-Bick, in his seven-volume report into the blaze that killed 72 people on 14 June 2017 at Grenfell Tower, set out several failings by firms involved in the fatal refurbishment of the building prior to the disaster. They included cladding firms Kingspan, Celotex and Arconic and Studio E, the now defunct architecture practice.<\/p>\n
Rayner said that as part of new powers under the Procurement Act, companies criticised in the years-long probe would be blocked from public contracts from for what Rayner described as their \u2018disgraceful mercenary behaviour\u2019.<\/p>\n
This includes Studio E Architects, which, although no longer trading, has been officially blocked from shutting down as a result of the Metropolitan Police\u2019s own investigation into the fire.<\/p>\n
Rayner told Parliament: \u2018The report found that they [cladding firms] acted with \u201csystemic dishonesty\u201d and they miss-sold and they marketed [the products and their] disgraceful mercenary behaviour out profit before people and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability with fatal consequences.\u2019<\/p>\n
Calling for companies to be held account, she added: \u2018To my disgust and their shame, some have shown little remorse and have refused to even help fix the building safety crisis that they did so much to create.\u2019<\/p>\n
The announcement follows prime minister Keir Starmer\u2019s warning in September that Grenfell firms would be barred from seeking public contracts following \u2018horrific failings\u2019 outlined by inquiry chair Moore-Bick in the second report.<\/p>\n
Reforms recommended by Moore-Bick, and which the government is now due to follow up, also include the creation of a chief construction advisor, due to be outlined later this year, new rights for social housing tenants and the publication of a construction product reform green paper to introduce a \u2018safety first\u2019 approach to building.<\/p>\n
Fire safety will also become the responsibility of the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on the inquiry\u2019s recommendation. The government will also consult on the creation of a new college of fire and rescue.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the bereaved and survivors, Rayner added that the government fully supported the Metropolitan Police\u2019s investigation into firms involved in Grenfell.<\/p>\n
She said: \u2018I pay tribute to the resolve of the bereaved families, survivors and members of the immediate community. Their campaigning has seen new legislation [the Building Safety Act] passed which members of this government also supported.\u2019<\/p>\n
Reforms are expected to come into effect from 2028 at the earliest, with the government committing to quarterly updates on proposed changes to the construction sector.<\/p>\n
\n
The government\u2019s post-Grenfell reforms<\/h4>\n\n- A new single construction regulator<\/b>\u00a0to ensure those responsible for building safety are held to account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Tougher oversight<\/b>\u00a0of those responsible for testing and certifying, manufacturing and using construction products with serious consequences for those who break the rules.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- A<\/strong>\u00a0legal duty of candour<\/b>\u00a0through a new Hillsborough Law, compelling public authorities to disclose the truth, ensuring transparency in major incidents, and holding those responsible for failures to account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Stronger, clearer, and enforceable\u00a0legal rights for residents,<\/b>\u00a0making landlords responsible for acting on safety concerns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Empowering social housing residents\u00a0<\/b>to challenge landlords and demand safe, high-quality housing, by expanding the Four Million Homes training programme. Make it easier for tenants to report safety concerns and secure landlord action by taking forward the Make Things Right campaign.<\/li>\n
- Ensuring lasting\u00a0transparency and accountability<\/b> by creating a publicly accessible record of all public inquiry recommendations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Speaking earlier today (26 February) in Parliament, Rayner said the new regulatory body for England and Wales would be among several changes made to improve safety and standards in the sector post-Grenfell. Once created, the \u2018strengthened\u2019 regulator would have the power to enforce \u2018tough new rules on construction product safety\u2019 and \u2018stamp out bad practice …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131789,"featured_media":585431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[681],"tags":[3147,3661,3141],"yoast_head":"\n
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